Classic Missiles on Wingweb.co.uk
The latter half of the 20th Century saw the development of many new and often unique aircraft. The high speeds enabled by the jet engine produced new challenges for the designers, and the most interesting period in aircraft development.
RWK
Colour coded Bloodhound Illustration
Red = Thor Ramjets,
Green = Solid Boosters
Alongside that development, missile technology also advanced rapidly, from the largely German developed technology of the early 1940s
Missiles are listed alphabetically.
You can also find missiles by using the search box above. This has the advantage of also finding other references to missiles and the aircraft that used them on other pages in the site.
The AGM-129A is a subsonic, turbofan-powered, air-launched cruise missile. It is harder to detect, and has greater range and accuracy than the AGM-86 air-launched cruise missile.
The AIM-7 Sparrow is a radar-guided, air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warhead. The versatile Sparrow has all-weather, all-altitude operational capability and can attack high-performance aircraft and missiles from any direction. It is a widely deployed missile used by U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces.
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It has a high-explosive warhead and an infrared heat-seeking guidance system. The Sidewinder was developed by the U.S. Navy for fleet air defense and was adapted by the U.S. Air Force for fighter aircraft use.
The development of Blue Steel was initiated after military planners realised that Britains "V" Bombers would become vulnerable to Soviet Air defences, leading to a requirement for a stand off missile.
The Bristol Bloodhound was a long range SAM (Surface to Air) missile developed during the 1950’s by the Bristol Aircraft Company, with a Ferranti guidance system. It was the RAF’s only long range SAM system, and served from 1958 to 1991
The Martin Matador became the first operational missile of the US Airforce in 1951. It remained in service until 1962, and was deployed overseas in West Germany, Taiwan and Korea
The Sea Dart was designed by Hawker Siddeley to replace the "Sea Slug" missile (who thought up that name?) to protect the Royal Navy surface fleet. Trials of the new missile started in 1965, and orders were placed for the new missile in 1967. It would go on to have a long service life
